THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509220623
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY AND PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Long : 245 lines
Churchland versus Western Branch is one of the few enduring rivalries in South Hampton Roads.
Tonight's game at Western Branch is bigger than most.
Both teams come in 2-0 with the Bruins ranked No. 4 and the Truckers No. 6.
The winner will emerge as a serious contender in the Southeastern District while the loser faces the prospect of having to beat top-ranked Deep Creek and No. 2 Indian River to stay in the playoff hunt.
With so much at stake, roving bands of mischievous students began preparing early in the week by raiding rival neighborhoods with eggs.
``This must be big,'' said Dave Fanzler, who lives in Point Elizabeth near Western Branch. ``The egg-throwing doesn't usually start until the night before the game or the night of the game.''
There are two other games matching ranked opponents tonight. No. 9 Granby is at Deep Creek and No. 10 Lake Taylor is at Indian River in non-district games.
In Group AA, Nansemond River hosts Matoaca, renewing one of the most competitive series in the state. Churchland vs. Western Branch
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Western Branch
Records: Churchland (2-0, 2-0); Western Branch (1-0, 2-0)
Last year's result: Churchland won, 29-28, OT
Outlook: The team that stops the big plays should win. The Truckers are averaging 359 yards rushing and have scored eight touchdowns of 20 yards or longer. The key matchup when Churchland has the ball will be quicksilver quarterback Otis Jones against Bruins' defensive ends J.D. Smith and Mark Edmonson. The Bruins' Daryl Walton is one of the best passers in the area, but struggled through a 2-for-9 effort last week against Norcom. Coaches can't lose faith if he gets off to a slow start. Key matchup when Bruins have the ball will be the young offensive line against the Truckers' inside blitzes. Ocean Lakes vs. Green Run
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Green Run
Records: Ocean Lakes (1-1, 1-2); Green Run (1-0, 2-0)
Last year's result: Green Run won, 63-0
Outlook: These teams got a feel for each other in a scrimmage, but this is the real deal. The Dolphins' offensive production has dropped off each week and Green Run is coming off a suffocating defensive performance against Bayside. The Green Run offense is no slouch, either. The Stallions are averaging 9.6 yards per play. Granby vs. Deep Creek
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Deep Creek Middle School
Records: Granby (0-0, 2-1); Deep Creek (1-0, 2-0)
Last year's result: Deep Creek won, 27-13
Outlook: Two Abe Goldblatt Award candidates go head to head in Deep Creek's Deon Dyer and Granby's Anthony King. Dyer was relentless last week in scoring four touchdowns against Wilson. King leads the area in total offense and challenges defenses with his scrambling. They have played one common opponent in Wilson. Granby beat the Presidents 6-0 in the rain. Deep Creek demolished Wilson 42-0. Lake Taylor vs. Indian River
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Indian River
Records: Lake Taylor (0-1); Indian River (2-0)
Last year's result: Lake Taylor won, 7-0
Outlook: The Titans were throttled last week in the rain by Booker T., 19-0, and may be without tight end/defensive end Darnell Whitaker, who is hobbled. The Titans are averaging only 21 yards per game passing, and if they let the Indian River defense crowd the line it's going to be a long night. Lake Taylor got burned on a pair of long passes against Booker T., and Indian River makes you defend the entire field. Ten Braves carried the ball at least once last week and five receivers caught passes. Tallwood vs. Salem
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Salem
Records: Tallwood (1-0, 2-0); Salem (1-0, 1-1)
Last year's result: Tallwood won, 29-10
Outlook: Tallwood's TaRon Anderson rushed for 175 yards last week against Princess Anne. He has scored 42 points in two games, which is more than 10 teams had scored. Salem's small defensive front will have to swarm to the ball to contain Anderson. Salem's offense came to life last week against Kellam, as Reggie Murphy, Dennis Freeman and Curtis Sanders averaged more than 7 yards on 24 carries. Tallwood's defense has forced eight turnovers. BTW vs. Bayside
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Bayside
Records: BTW (2-1); Bayside (0-2)
Last year's result: BTW won, 40-0
Outlook: It's gut check time for Bayside's 20 seniors. The Marlins' 37-0 loss to Green Run last week was their worst since last year's 40-0 dismantling by Booker T. Washington. Bayside is in danger of starting 0-3 for the first time since 1985. The Bookers burst in to the top 10 this week at No. 8, coming off a 19-0 win over Lake Taylor. Tailback Shawn Minter is second in the area in rushing. Noseguard LaVar Revils led a furious defensive charge against Lake Taylor. Kempsville vs. Princess Anne
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Princess Anne
Records: Kempsville (1-0, 2-0); Princess Anne (0-2, 0-2)
Last year's result: Kempsville won, 34-10
Outlook: The Chiefs rank third in the area in rushing and the Cavaliers are next to last against the run - a volatile combination. Princess Anne's offense hasn't exactly helped its defense. The Cavaliers have fumbled 12 times and lost eight. Kempsville's Trey Simkins (180 yards), Zeb Clark (162) and Alex Lleces (142) rank 15th, 16th and 17th in the area, respectively, in rushing. Oscar Smith vs. Norcom
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Churchland
Records: Oscar Smith (0-0, 1-1); Norcom (0-2, 0-2)
Last year's result: Norcom won, 26-0
Outlook: The Greyhounds found an offense last week against Western Branch. Brandon Grimes, who didn't carry the ball against Churchland, rushed 14 times for 77 yards and Vernon Grandison carried eight times for 42. The Greyhounds also shut down Bruins quarterback Daryl Walton. Oscar Smith has had an extra week to prepare. The Tigers were held to 1 yard rushing in their last start, against Booker T., and quarterback Jamar Lewis has completed only 31 percent of his passes with four interceptions. Kellam vs. Cox
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Cox
Records: Kellam (0-1, 1-1); Cox (1-0, 1-1)
Last year's result: Cox won, 34-13
Outlook: Both teams have displayed an ability to move the ball against similar competition. Cox ran the ball efficiently in beating Ocean Lakes and Kellam rushed for 189 yards and passed for 105 with no turnovers against Salem. That Kellam lost that game 30-14 indicates the Knights are vulnerable defensively against teams with outside speed. Cox broke open last year's game with three touchdown passes. The Falcons haven't shown that ability this year. Maury vs. First Colonial
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: First Colonial
Records: Maury (0-3); First Colonial (1-1)
Last year's result: First Colonial won 37-19
Outlook: Neither team is very physical or tackles well. First Colonial has better offensive balance - quarterback Dorman Minor is an emerging star - and has the area's top kicker in Jesse Harris. That shouldn't intimidate the Commodores, who have lost to No. 2 Indian River and No. 3 Green Run the past two weeks. Maury's new wishbone has moved the ball on the ground; William Black is fifth in rushing with 246 yards. But 19 fumbles - 10 lost - have killed numerous drives. Wilson vs. Great Bridge
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Great Bridge Middle School South
Records: Wilson (0-1, 0-3); Great Bridge (0-1, 0-3)
Last year's result: Great Bridge won, 17-6
Outlook: This might be one of the few chances for either team to win. Wilson had been competitive before getting crushed by No. 1 Deep Creek 42-0. Quarterback Terrence Winston and tailback Stephon White figure to have more success against a Wildcats defense ranked 22nd out of 23 teams. Great Bridge has rushed and passed for at least 100 yards in every game. Matoaca vs. Nansemond River
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Nansemond River
Records: Matoaca (3-0); Nansemond River (1-1)
Last year's result: Nansemond River won, 13-12
Outlook: A major test for the Warriors. Powerful Matoaca returns nearly everyone from a year ago and is considered one of the favorites for the Division III state title. Also nicknamed the Warriors, they're led by 6-4, 225-pound fullback/defensive end Byron Thweatt, a second-team all-state pick a year ago. Their three victories have come against Group AAA opponents. History says this game could be a classic - in addition to last year's one-point decision, Matoaca won by two points two years ago when Nansemond River dropped a two-point conversion pass with no time on the clock and in double overtime three years ago. Greensville vs. Lakeland
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Lakeland
Records: Greenville (2-1); Lakeland (1-1)
Last year's result: Lakeland won, 15-14
Outlook: The Cavaliers displayed excellent offensive balance in their 15-14 loss last week to Lunenberg, getting 80 yards from their fullbacks, 101 from tailback Reginald Wiggins, and 80 from quarterback Lindell Hunter. Hunter also threw for 92 yards. Lakeland must do a better job inside the red zone, however. Cavaliers drove inside the Lunenberg 20 three times without scoring. Greensville is led by tailback Maurice Hicks, who has rushed for 365 yards on just 34 carries with five touchdowns. Hicks also plays cornerback, where he's picked off two passes and recovered three fumbles. Greenbrier vs. Colonial Beach
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Colonial Beach
Records: Greenbrier (2-1); Colonial Beach (2-2)
Last year's result: Greenbrier won, 19-0
Outlook: Contrasting offensive styles at work here. Colonial Beach is a classic I formation team featuring tailback Earl Payton, while the Gators like to ``diversify the football'' with their explosive offense. Greenbrier scored on two reverses and a hook-and-lateral during their 34-0 victory over Catholic last week. The Gators defense played even better last week, as Steve Claggion recorded four sacks and Greenbrier held Catholic to minus-21 yards rushing. Greenbrier will look for penetration from Claggion and Heath Gibbs to force Payton to use his best moves in his own backfield. Norfolk Academy vs. St. Christopher's
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Site: St. Christopher's
Records: Norfolk Academy (2-0); St. Christopher's (2-0)
Last year's result: Norfolk Academy won, 19-10
Outlook: Two stats shed light on the Bulldogs' success to date. Norfolk Academy has forced nine turnovers while committing none, and quarterback Tad Galloway is 4 for 4 passing - all for touchdowns. St. Christopher's also has a strong quarterback. Taylor Williams ran for 60 yards and threw for 116 and a touchdown last week. Atlantic Shores vs. Catholic
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Catholic
Records: Atlantic Shores (2-1); Catholic (1-1)
Last year's result: Atlantic Shores won, 22-21
Outlook: The Crusaders have been inconsistent on both sides of the ball, a typical flaw of a young team. But their penchant for giving up the big play could be fatal against the explosive Seahawks. Catholic's best chance is to keep the game close and hope Atlantic Shores' lack of depth - the Seahawks play a lot of guys both ways - leads to fatigue. But if Atlantic Shores strikes a couple of times early, this one could be over quickly. The Seahawks are usually great front-runners. Nansemond-Suffolk vs. Collegiate
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Collegiate
Records: Nansemond-Suffolk (0-3); Collegiate (1-0).
Last year's result: Collegiate won, 27-12
Outlook: Saints coach Terry Crigger reports improvement in his team's passing game, but it may be tough to get much going this week. Collegiate is experienced - 32 juniors and seniors - and features a 230-pound tailback. Quarterback Chuck McFall threw for 217 yards and a touchdown last week. Saints linebacker Jay Nixon has been solid all year. by CNB